Malizia Explorer and Under The Pole join forces for Antarctic Expedition to advance science
by Team Malizia 14 Jan 21:20 PST
The sailing research vessels Malizia Explorer and Under The Pole are teaming up for an expedition to Antarctica.
The mission brings together an international crew, including Under The Pole co-founders Emmanuelle and Ghislain Bardout, scientists Lorenzo Bramanti and Léa Olivier, and climate activists Luisa Neubauer and Camille Étienne, to the Western Antarctic Peninsula to conduct oceanographic research, and study mesophotic ecosystems (30-200m) through deep diving as part of the DEEPLIFE scientific programme, while enhancing the mission's impact on conservation and public policy.
In the Western Antarctic Peninsula, two scientific sailing vessels have joined forces to study one of the regions experiencing the fastest environmental changes on the planet. WHY, operated by Under The Pole, has been carrying out the DEEPLIFE programme since early December, and Team Malizia's Malizia Explorer has now arrived to begin a joint expedition. After departing Ushuaia and navigating the infamous Drake Passage, the two crews reunited on 11 January 2026 and have started their collaborative work in the region.
Onboard the two vessels is a diverse international team of 20 sailors, divers, scientists, climate advocates, journalists, and influential voices, including environmental activists Luisa Neubauer (Germany) and Camille Étienne (France), Tamara Klink (Brazil), Lorenzo Bramanti (France) from the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), and Dr Léa Olivier (France) from the Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI). Together, they form a collective dedicated to making the often-invisible impacts of climate change in Antarctica visible to the global public while conducting various scientific research.
During the expedition, Malizia Explorer is carrying out oceanographic research and providing logistical and operational support to the Under The Pole team, enabling deep human diving operations and scientific research throughout their three-month summer campaign. While Under The Pole's crew has been diving since December along the west side of the peninsula, down to Adelaide Island, Malizia Explorer will undertake two consecutive one-month missions, with a second voyage scheduled for early February 2026.
The scientific objectives of the expedition
This joint mission is part of the DEEPLIFE scientific programme, a global initiative, led by Under The Pole, dedicated to studying and documenting Marine Animal Forests (MAFs) across the world's Ocean basins, from polar to tropical regions, and from shallow waters (0-30 m) to mesophotic depths (30-200 m). Recognised by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as vulnerable marine habitats, Marine Animal Forests (MAFs) are complex ecosystems formed by animals such as corals, gorgonians, and sponges. Much like terrestrial forests, they play an essential ecological role and could serve as refuges for marine biodiversity in the face of increasing human pressure and climate change.
These habitats thrive mainly in the mesophotic zone, an environment that remains largely unknown and unexplored. Yet, it is increasingly threatened by fishing activities, particularly krill fishing in Antarctica, and the impacts of climate change. DEEPLIFE, endorsed by the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development and led scientifically by CNRS, aims to advance the conservation of deep marine ecosystems, too often overlooked. Lorenzo Bramanti, DEEPLIFE's scientific co-director and experienced deep diver, is on board the WHY throughout the three-month expedition to ensure the successful implementation of scientific protocols.
In parallel, scientific work onboard Malizia Explorer led by Léa Olivier, post-doctoral researcher in Oceanography at AWI, will focus on linking physical Ocean structure, biological activity and carbon fluxes across coastal-to-open-ocean gradients. These studies aim to close key data gaps and improve understanding of Ocean-climate interactions in the Western Antarctic Peninsula. With its two consecutive voyages, Malizia Explorer will rotate crew and host additional scientists for other research, while also providing the equipment and logistical support that enables WHY to remain in the region and carry out deep diving operations over three months.
The advocacy objectives of the expedition
Beyond exploration and science, the gathering of all these people in Antarctica over January, which was named "Global Warning", also carries a strong advocacy and awareness mission: a dedicated campaign will be launched to highlight the importance of protecting Antarctic marine and particularly mesophotic ecosystems, with the support of influencers and public figures on board, amplifying the message to global audiences. Guided by the belief that we only protect what we know and love, the team is also leading global outreach initiatives, connecting with schools and adult audiences worldwide through live communications, storytelling, calls-to-action, and educational events.
The expedition builds on Malizia Explorer's previous Antarctic research and outreach efforts, conducted in November in collaboration with the Alfred Wegener Institute, the German Environment Agency, and ThINK Jena. That earlier mission delivered the first detailed field study of the Danger Islands, a small yet ecologically significant island group, providing critical data to improve global climate models and inform political decision-making. Beyond data collection, the project aimed to bridge science and policy by translating research insights into concrete conservation strategies.
By partnering together on this new expedition, Malizia Explorer and Under The Pole are contributing to help advance understanding of fragile polar ecosystems while amplifying the urgency of their protection to audiences worldwide. As the Antarctic summer unfolds, the teams will continue to combine science, storytelling, and outreach to inspire global action for Ocean conservation.
Follow the Global Warning 2026 expedition
Updates from the Global Warning 2026 mission will be shared throughout the Antarctic campaign via Malizia Explorer's channels, as well as those of Under The Pole and the expedition participants.